Monster Riff

The Monster Riff Presents podcast is back, and we're on video now! Had the pleasure of talking to the young guys in Delco Detention, the hard-rockin' outfit that now pulls inspiration from '90s heroes like Alice in Chains and Primus. Delco Detention has an incredibly interesting history (and they've been featured on Monster Riff quite a bit), so be sure to check it out: https://monsterriff.com/2024/01/18/an-interview-with-delco-detention-navigating-school-rock-and-growth-as-a-young-hard-rock-band/

Patrick Brink (Volume) - Episode Preview

🔥 Generator parties, anyone? 🔥 Although bands like Kyuss and Yawning Man are usually the first ones to come to mind when generator parties are brought up, they weren't the only bands there. Enter VOLUME. Led by Patrick Brink, Volume made a name for itself in the California desert with its heavy, fuzzed-out psychedelic rock, a style of music that Revolved Magazine described as "the best lo-fi mindf**k since Monster Magnet's 'Tab.'" We just had Patrick on the Monster Riff Presents podcast to talk about the band's history and re-releasing the stellar "Requesting Permission to Land" EP. Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2BlGkzf9fQ7fPIsgsIwQYU?si=c2b83be1d38e465d

Podcast Preview: Aiwass & Aawks

Don't miss this killer new episode! Aiwass, the brooding Psychedelic Doom project that put out the stellar "Wayward Gods" in 2021, and AAWKS, the upbeat Psychedelic Doom band that put out the excellent "Heavy On the Cosmic" in 2022, have teamed up for a powerful new split entitled "The Eastern Scrolls." Inspired by the life and writings of Russian mystic Madame Blavatsky, The Eastern Scrolls is a dark, mysterious, and enthralling evolution of both bands’ individual sounds. The result: A heavy, captivating split between two heavy, captivating bands. Get the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1obAXrkmOJGaPggXN7ToSM?si=055e3ef0686c4468 And pre-order the split from Black Throne Productions here: https://blackthroneproductions.com/en-us/products/aawks-aiwass-split-the-eastern-scrolls-preorder

Had an absolute blast with Scott of Cleanandsoberstoner on the Monster Riff podcast! If you haven't met him, Scott is a terrific writer and even better person—so be sure to check out his blog (https://cleanandsoberstoner.com/)! We talked about his site's rapid growth, writing for the Doom Charts, and much more! Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4GXHsW7BJ0lZjJbZrmHYLk?si=189d13ce28074d3b

Thank you to everyone who donated to the Fostering Music campaign! We beat our goal of $600 and reached $715! You all rock! 🤘

🤘 Can you give a foster child the gift of music? Monster Riff is helping Fostering Music raise $600 to help a child afford a bass guitar and amp. If you’re unaware, Fostering Music is an incredible organization that helps kids who are in (or have been through) the foster care system access instruments and music lessons as an expressive outlet and invaluable life skill. That’s freaking awesome. After all, it’s all fun to argue and subgenres and swap our favorite riffs, but music is ultimately about community. And this small part of the community needs help. Jaiden is an enthusiastic musician, and although he’s been playing the guitar for some time now, he’s recently become enamored with the bass. We’re trying to get him one. Consider donating here: https://donorbox.org/monster-riff-bass-campaign

🎙️ Check out the latest episode of Monster Riff Presents, featuring Todd White of King Volume Records. He offers some great advice for bands looking to work with a record label, and he also shows off some serious biceps in the cover art! 💪😂 Here's the link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/69hQKnLu6b4rXZK7gw4Rf4?si=81049b4729034250

🎙️⚡ New Episode Available! ⚡🎙️ Delco Detention is back! Today they released "Crack the Lock"—an EP that features new singer Angelique Zuppo and shows another evolution in the band's overall sound. The band hopped onto the podcast to talk about recent developments in the band, their new release, and more! Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zFZIHnNLuCnyPH9dn21ek?si=a3652039f8e348dc

⚡🎙️New Podcast Episode: Twin Wizard🎙️⚡ When Twin Wizard first released "Glacial Gods" in 2020, it was met with great reviews. But after a line-up shift to the two-man band, drummer Anthony Dreyer and guitarist/vocalist Matt Larson decided to re-record the entire album. The result was a fresh take on an awesome record! We sat down with the Savanna, Illinois-based two-piece to hear what it was like to reinvent a great album, discuss their latest tour—and more! Get the full interview here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/38bEytzdSnNRSb2UZJiGqS?si=8d3b81b38f674b92

Silent Monolith Episode Preview

🎙️ Had a blast hanging out with the guys from Nashville's Silent Monolith! We took a deep dive into their latest album ("Empty Kingdom"), discussed the Nashville music scene, and much more! Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0bao4mXjSBGKA8zIzmmtYs?si=b2be466431c54624

John Garcia Interview Preview

⚡🎙️⚡ John Garcia of Kyuss (and Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano, and Vista Chino) hopped onto the podcast! We covered a lot of ground, especially life off the road as a vet tech. John is passionate about helping animals, and the entire country is currently in the middle of a veterinarian shortage. To help, John is taking part in a benefit concert at the Annenberg Theater at Palm Springs Art Museum on Saturday, September 17, 2022 (8:00 PM). Proceeds will help fund scholarships for veterinary technicians. Learn more by visiting www.amyspurpose.net or contacting DeAnn Lubell at [email protected]. Donations are also accepted! Get tickets here: https://www.psmuseum.org/events/amys-purpose-22 Outside of his life of working with animals, we also discussed finding his voice as the young singer in Kyuss, collaborating with other bands, and much, much more! Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yXJuEE5s1BQVM465cr13a?si=36ef008a87414f38

It’s Saturday! Here’s who I’m digging today: - Ian Blurton’s Future Now - I’m really excited about Ian Blurton’s Future Now and their new album, “Second Skin.” This takes all the low end of Black Sabbath and melds it with enthusiastic ‘70s Classic Rock and old school Metal. Really energetic. Really cool. - Nebula - Nebula is back with their trademark walls of laid-back Stoner Rock fuzz and exploratory Space/Psych Rock—all packed into their new album, “Transmission From Mothership Earth.” - Brujas del Sol - This is a Heavy Psychedelic band that just put out “Deculter” through @kozmikartifactz. This album has ecstatic highs and super cool and heavy low ends. - MY SLEEPING KARMA - OFFICIAL - I’ve loved this hypnotic Psychedelic/Prog band for years, and they have a new album coming out next week. Check out their latest singles ahead of the release! Learn more: https://monsterriff.com/2022/07/23/saturday-music-suggestions-july-23-2022-ian-blurtons-future-now-nebula-brujas-del-sol-my-sleeping-karma/

Saturday Music Suggestions - July 16, 2022

It's time for another round of Saturday Music Suggestions! - Josiah specializes in ultra-cool and laidback Stoner grooves and guitars plucked directly from the ‘70s. Listen to “We Lay On Cold Stone” with your favorite beer (or similar vice). - Planet of the 8s is an Australian Desert Rock band channeling a mix of Alice in Chains and Queens of the Stone Age, but I also hear a lot of Them Crooked Vultures mixed in. They have a split coming up with @Duneeater, but check out their “Tourist Season” album. - Eight Foot Manchild - No, Eight Foot Manchild isn’t a gimmick; this is a Doom/Brass group here your rock your face off with plenty of Doom and Brass. A ton of fun and the real deal! - Sons of Arrakis is a Montreal band heavily influenced by Frank Herbert and the Dune series. You’ll often hear elements of The Sword and Black Sabbath in their heavy Stoner tunes. Listen to their latest release, “Volume 1.” Send me your recommendations! Learn more here: https://monsterriff.com/2022/07/16/saturday-music-suggestions-july-16-2022-josiah-planet-of-the-8s-eight-food-manchild-sons-of-arrakis/

Huge shoutout to Joop Konraad of Stoner HiVe and the Doom Charts for joining the latest podcast episode! Hear Joop's advice on how to get featured in those publications and how to make it in the scene. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6IyQ65Ban03JNvXRqYcsex?si=31af3cd5cafd482f

I’m going to start doing a better job of posting the Saturday Music Suggestions on Facebook! And even better: I’m going to start adding them to the website as well! Bands to check out this weekend: SMOKE THE LIGHT, Oreyeon, Cactus Flowers Band, and KingPotenaz. Read here: https://monsterriff.com/2022/07/09/saturday-music-suggestions-july-9-2022-smoke-the-light-oreyeon-cactus-flowers-king-potenaz/

Remember the campaign we ran for Fostering Music a little while back to help them raise money for new drums? Well, they just sent over a video of one of the kids getting to try them out! Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who contributed to the campaign. As you may recall, we ended up beating our goal in just a few days. You’re all incredible, and my heart is full. Rock on and fuzz out.

Thank You for Contributing to Fostering Music!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to or shared the Fostering Music campaign yesterday! We successfully raised $400 in less than 24 hours, which means two foster kids will receive an electronic drum kit to practice on! If you'd like to learn more, check out the next Monster Riff Presents podcast episode (coming this Friday), where I'll interview Fostering Music founder Christy Stitt. And if you'd still like to donate to this specific campaign, you can do so here: https://donorbox.org/fostering-music-monster-riff-fundraiser And if you'd like to donate to Fostering Music in general, visit this page: https://fosteringmusic.com/donate-1 You're all awesome. Rock on! 🤘

Fostering Music

We're working with Fostering Music this week to help them raise money to get two foster kids behind an electronic drum kit! Fostering Music is an incredible nonprofit in western Pennsylvania working to help kids who have been in or through the foster care system access instruments and music lessons. As I explain in the video, it's fun to talk about our favorite bands. It's fun to rank our favorite albums. And it's fun to talk about gear. But we often forget why we come to music in the first place. It's the community. The emotion. The raw power. Music has this wonderful ability to transform us, and it's awesome to be able to gift that to someone in need. If you can spare even a single dollar, please consider visiting the fundraiser page to lend your support: https://donorbox.org/fostering-music-monster-riff-fundraiser

Monster Riff Presents - Kristy Bissell Podcast Episode Preview

🎙️ New episode drops on Friday, and I'm stoked for three big reasons: 1. Voice teacher and host of The Happy Singer Podcast Kristy Bissell is joining to talk about vocalists in Stoner Rock. 2. This is the first episode James of Two Bodies of Water Productions is assisting on the audio, and there's a big boost in overall sound quality! 3. Blake Carrera of Aiwass has contributed a new intro track. 🤘 It sometimes takes a village to build something you love, and I'm thankful to have so many supportive people around Monster Riff.

Saturday Music Suggestions - November 6, 2021

Here's the next round of weekend music recommendations. On today's list: Spaceslug ("Lemanis" Album) Aiwass ("Wayward Gods" Album) Alkemia ("Unida" Single) King Buffalo ("The Burden of Restlessness" Album) Leave your recommendations in the comments below!